Carrying the weight well

The modern caddie could frequently be mistaken for a pack-horse or sherpa with the amount of accoutrements he is expected to lug about for his player. It is not as simple as just packing clubs and balls.

In Europe, the caddie's day begins in the locker-room, and in America outside the locker-room. This is an important difference. The European Tour golfer expects his caddie to make sure everything that should be in the bag is in it. The American is more likely to pack his needs in the bag himself as his porter will not have access to the locker.

Starting at the bottom pocket, there will be the "Medical supplies". This can include headache tablets, anti-inflammatories for those with a dodgy back, extra contact lenses for the short-sighted, plasters for those inevitable blisters (a result of an excess supply these days of new golf shoes), sunblock and lip-salve. Along side the medicals there will be spare shoe spikes (soft or hard ) with an accompanying stud-key.

The next pocket up will probably have the balls in it. Certain players, given their superstitious nature, will not play certain numbered balls: present him his unlucky numbered ball at your peril. No fewer than a dozen would suffice with the sensitivity of these high-performance modern balls, often a mere glimpse of the club-face and it is damaged beyond repair only to be swiftly replaced. The porter will always have a marked ball on his person at every stage of the round.

The smaller, third pocket will be for placing the used balls in, so they are not confused with the new ones.

Of course these balls must be the identical ball. This presents another possibility for disaster for the bag packer. At the French open this year I arrived on the tee with six of one type of ball and half a dozen of another variation of the same manufacturer's. In this case the famous old saying of six of one and half a dozen of the other didn't quite equate. My player had decided to try this new version of the ball and the only visible difference was a miniscule arrow that the untrained eye (mine) did not spot. The manufacturer's rep had erroneously left a mixture of balls in our locker, all in plane white boxes. A disaster had been averted by me somehow noticing the difference before we teed off. Otherwise I would have handed my player a different type of ball somewhere during the course of the round which would result in disqualification. The responsibility there was partly mine, partly the representative's and partly my player's.

On to the main sanctum of the bag, the inner chambers where the tools are stored. There can be 14 of them and no more. Drivers with some players are referred to as the ornament, something only to drape the towel over, and never to be used for play.

In the main compartment of the bag the sherpa will pack various items of clothing depending on the weather. From rain gear, both his and his player's, to sweaters, sleeveless sweaters, head-cover and dry towel if it rains. There will be a bunch of gloves both new and old, a pouch with personal belonging inside, various selection of fruits, some energy bars and a bottle of water.

Now if the wife is about you may well be expected to add the 800-page book she is reading. Depending on his relationship with the player, and more importantly the wife, a caddie may raise an eyebrow at this luggage request.